Home to art spots like the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo and galleries, as well as unique secondhand bookstores, Kiyosumi Shirakawa has seen a surge in the number of third-wave coffee shops, including Blue Bottle Coffee, Arise Coffee Roasters, and Allpress Espresso, specializing in roasting and brewing techniques. Kiyosumi Shirakawa is a city that ushers in new culture, while also boasting a fusion of traditional sweet shops, tsukudani (simmered food) restaurants, and oden (stew) shops, all deeply rooted in everyday life. Attracted by the fascinating blend of new and old, and the ambivalent atmosphere of the town, Yuya Mita, owner of the tea specialty shop TEAPOND, opened his shop in Kiyosumi Shirakawa. Now in its second year, the shop attracts customers from both the neighborhood and far and wide, craving stylish teapots, cups, and saucers, as well as a wide selection of high-quality teas.



■A wide variety of teas, including teas from different farms, our own blends, and fruit teas

"We always have around 60 types of tea in stock, including teas from different regions and farms, flavored teas blended in-house, and fruit and herb teas blended in Germany and Austria. Recently, just like with coffee beans, more and more customers are particular about the picking time and the name of the farm," says Mita. Even from the same farm, the taste of tea can vary greatly depending on the picking time. Apparently tea picked in the spring has a youthful freshness, while tea picked in the summer has depth and sweetness. That's why TEAPOND offers several varieties of tea leaves picked at different times from the same farm.